Beautiful Daffodils…

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© Joan Currie – My daffodil watercolor after G.D. Egret

Hidden From View by Joan Currie

In fields of gold where daffodils dance,
Their beauty shines in a fleeting glance.
But beneath the soil, where roots entwine,
Lurks a truth that’s less than divine.

For hidden from view, in the earth’s embrace,
Lie roots that tell of a different fate.
Though petals gleam in the sun’s warm light.
The roots betray a darker sight.

So too, do some, in the world’s gaze,
Appear as beauty in myriad ways.
But beneath the surface, unseen to most,
Lies a truth that’s harder to boast.

This morning, I noticed that the squirrels had uprooted my daffodil plants. As I gently pressed them back into the soil, I was struck by the contrast between the lovely, sunny blooms on top and the fine, twisted roots emerging from the bulb at the bottom.

© Joan Currie – Detail from my Portrait with Red Lips

I thought about how some people, too, present themselves as the picture of perfect beauty and loveliness but deep inside may lie a darker story – be it of heartache, grief, illness, or even a darkness of the soul.

© Rijksmuseum

Beautiful Making Textile Art With What You Have…

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© Joan Currie – My wreath needlepoint on a black background ready to sew into a pillow,

Needlepoint Wreath by Joan Currie

In a tapestry of threads once left astray,
Lies the beauty of a wreath in shades arrayed.
With remnants of wool, a canvas they adorn,
A masterpiece born from what others scorned.

Each stitch a story of resilience and grace,
From discarded strands, a new life takes place.
In every cross and turn, a tale is spun,
Of transformation from what was undone.

What once lay idle, now blooms with delight,
A wreath of colors, a symphony of light.
So, the joy of creating from what’s been cast away,
Turning leftovers into art, day by day.

I wanted to stitch a needlepoint project using leftover tapestry wool from past efforts. This wreath was worked using a combination of Appleton, Paternayan (two strands only), and Elizabeth Bradley yarns. I did not have all the color matches for the pattern so I had to create my own colorway. I plan to sew it into a pillow with rose velvet ribbon piping and a black velvet backing.

I really like creating something beautiful from scraps, be it a needlepoint canvas or a quilt. These end up being my favorite pieces!

© Joan Currie. My small wreath needlepoint sewn into a pillow.

Beautiful Icelandic Sheepdog…

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© Joan Currie – My watercolor painting of an Icelandic Sheepdog.

Anita’s Spirit by Joan Currie

In Reykjavik’s streets, where legends roam,
Anita, like a star, found her home.
With fur of black and white, a beauty rare,
A brown circle ’round her eye, beyond compare.

Energetic and alert, she caught my eye,
A playful spirit, reaching for the sky.
In her gaze, a spark, like twinkling stars,
I wished to take her home, to be mine.

Though now a pet, her spirit’s still free,
Anita, the Icelandic dog, with glee.
With every wag of her tail, a tale unfurled,
In my heart, she’ll forever be cherished, this world.

I admired this Icelandic Sheepdog in Reykjavik’s city center. Her name is Anita, after the Icelandic actress, Anita Briem. Oddly, she was only one of two pet dogs I saw in Iceland during my eight-day stay there. This breed dates back to the 800s when humans first came to Iceland. Anita seemed very eager and lively – I am sure she would have been a good sheep herder.

© Icelandic Kennel Club

Beautiful Easter…

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Detail of Sulphur Lily by Lilian Snelling 1936.

Redemptive Light by Joan Currie

In Easter’s light, redemption’s tale is told,
Through Christ’s sacrifice, salvation unfolds.
He bore the weight of sin upon the cross,
To free us from despair and endless loss.

In agony, he bore pain and strife,
That we may find the path to eternal life.
His wounds, a testament to love’s pure grace,
An offering of mercy in that sacred place.

With each nail driven, each thorn pressed deep,
He paved the way for us to rise and reap,
The blessings of forgiveness, freely given,
He triumphed over death, all sins forgiven,

So let us gather, hearts lifted high,
In gratitude for the gift of Christ’s reply.
Easter’s dawn brings hope and renewal bright,
As we walk in the glow of redemptive light.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter! 💛 xo

My favorite Easter hymn below, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Alleluia!

Beautiful 365 Day Creative Challenge Completed…

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© Joan Currie – My last 16″ x 16″ needlepoint canvas finally made into a pillow.

All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.
by James Clear, Atomic Habits

I am happy to report that I have finally finished my last needlepoint project. It took me an entire year to stitch twelve canvases (and that included sewing them into pillows). I had intended to try another self-imposed creative challenge in another medium such as painting versus textiles, but the habit of picking up a needlepoint canvas is so ingrained in me, that I cannot and now do not want to give it up! Thank you, James Clear, for starting me on this creative challenge journey.

Beautiful Hedgerow Needlepoint…

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© Joan Currie – My completed 16″ x 16″ Hedgerow needlepoint pillow.

My Hedgerow Needlepoint Gift by Joan Currie

Six months of needlepointing, each day a steady hand,
With Victorian cross stitches, my large opus planned.
Thousands of small stitches, so meticulously placed,
And twenty hues of tapestry wool carefully spaced.

On this canvas, my heart is stitched in every row,
A gift to my daughter, a treasure on her bestowed.
I hope she will hold it close and feel the love it bears,
My offering of this hedgerow to cherish and to share.

This needlepoint pillow was planned as a gift for my daughter. So glad to have completed it! 🧡

Beautiful Alphabets, Teddy Bears, and more…

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© Joan Currie – My needlepoint wreath and alphabet pillows.

My Needlepoint Pillow Gifts by Joan Currie

In stitches and threads, a year’s toil unfurled,
Ten needlepoint pillows, each a gem in the world.
With wool and with velvet, with silk piping so fine,
Crafted with love, each design to enshrine.

Alphabet treasures that children adore,
Alligators, elephants – snakes galore!
Gentle giraffes and bears wearing red bows,
Falcons, hedgehogs, and ducks with no toes.

As gifts were given, joy filled the air,
Tears of delight, expressions so rare.
But scarcely had they nestled in hand,
The chorus erupted, a unanimous demand.

“We want more!” they cried, their voices a cheer,
For the beautiful stitching, oh so dear!
So back to the needles, with passion and grace,
More pillows to make for their hearts’ embrace.

I have two large needlepoint canvases almost finished, and had planned to take a break from needlepoint to concentrate on my animal and bird watercolor paintings. But now, we shall see!

© Joan Currie – More of my small needlepoint pillows. Elizabeth Bradley design.
© Joan Currie – My floral needlepoint pillows. The smaller pillow was worked in embroidery floss – not wool.

Beautiful – Handsome Flâneur…

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© Ernest Favis. The model is the enigmatic Micha Borodaev.

The Flâneur by Joan Currie

In the bustling streets, he roams alone,
In sartorial style all his own.
With aimless steps, he wanders free,
Observing life’s grand tapestry.

He watches lovers hand in hand,
Yet, intimacy he can’t understand.
For behind closed doors, secrets lie,
Hidden from his wandering eye.

He sees the tears, hears goodbyes,
But never truly feels the ties.
To him, the boulevard’s his stage,
Where life unfolds page by page.

Yet, deep within, a longing stirs,
For connection that only he infers.
But in his solitude, he finds solace sweet,
As a flâneur on the city’s street.

I think intimacy is one of the greatest gifts one person can give to another.

Beautiful Flying Higher…

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© Joan Currie – My needlepoint bird on mesh canvas

To Fly Higher by Joan Currie

In shadows cast by judgment’s weight,
I find myself, a bird, sedate.
Dreams clipped by critical gaze,
An anchor, heavy, in life’s maze.

Each flight of joy, a tentative dance,
Held back by words, a stifling trance.
But deep within, a yearning stirs,
For freedom’s song, no longer deferred.

To cut the chains, to break away,
From mainstays holding, day by day.
To soar anew, with wings unfurled,
Towards dreams embraced, in a boundless world.

So let me sever, let me fly,
Bid farewell to judgement’s sigh.
For in the vastness of the sky,
I’ll find my joy, no longer shy.

Today I noticed that the birds are back in my yard. Spring has come once again!

© Joan Currie – My needlepoint bird made into a pillow.

Beautiful Valentine’s Day 2024…

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© Lai Man Cheung Photography – Lauren DiMarco and Aaron Man

My Valentine’s Day With You by Joan Currie

On Valentine’s Day, the world may sway,
With roses and hearts on display.
But true love blooms in everyday,
In acts of kindness, come what may.

Not in grand gestures or lavish affair,
But in the tender moments we share.
In simple joys and burdens we bear,
Love’s essence found, beyond compare.

It’s in our laughter that fills the air,
In quiet moments, hearts laid bare.
In comforting hugs, always there,
Love’s beauty shines on us, a pair.

Our love is found in the mundane,
In whispered words like gentle rain.
In steadfast presence, free from strain,
A bond that weathers every pain.

So on this day, let’s not forget,
That love’s true worth, we shall not fret.
In day-to-day acts, our souls are met,
In the special moments, love is set.


Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day on the 14th! xo ❤️